I am officially putting Chloe under a protective bubble/shield until Idyll pets have all recovered..... pls advise when the quarantine can safely be lifted. The chill mornings are playing havoc w/ my blooming clematis -- poor Niobe that is littered w/ blooms & buds was seriously drooping -- since it's a 5 yr old I doubt it's "wilt" but suffering from the cold, cold mornings we've had - bizarre for May here. I am taking comfort in seeing Spanish Bluebells blooming in 2 areas of the back garden though -- I probably planted those bulbs 3 or more years ago and this is the first time flowering! I'd truly given them up & figured they were a flop - they're just a tiny patch but so pretty! (probably 8 out of 50 original bulbs, but ya gotta love 'em, LOL). Speaking of oriental lilies, I have really been startled as well here that my clumps are looking incredibly huge, healthy & have increased a lot since last year -- and this is for ones I planted in June I think - go figure. So apparently somethings are liking the weather, just not the ones I was expecting. Deanne, I remember your stunning photos w/ the Casablancas; you definitely need to re-install. They're smashing - to say nothing of sooo wonderful for our noses. Brenda, whenever I am flagging and think I've had a hard day, I am going to think of you -- the physical labor & long hours you put in & then come home to deal w/ stinky dogs & dinner make you into the superwoman category in my book! Chelone -- I had to dig out 4 yr old clumps of Eupatorium a few years ago & I can't imagine what your older ones were like -- it was like digging thru bedrock -- I cussed and fussed -- and it kept coming back; eventually I had to put plastic over it for several months (after round-up!) to get rid of it -- so take heart, you could just take one little piece & it will survive, trust me. I've had luck w/ potting pieces of baptisia too (altho it was probably not too old a plant)so it may be yours will bloom after a little sulk. I love that plant too -- talk about low maintenance for big bang! Im pretty enamoured of the B. Purple Smoke I bought last month too -- they come in such lovely colors these days w/ all the hybridization going on. I sure hope all others are finally really on the mend -- pets and people alike -- I think it sounds like everyone has had more than their fair share of this stuff! And donations to car shops and vets has been more than adequate. I've got a staff meeting this a.m. -- more changes and announcements -- we have a new HR head (it's somewhat of a revolving door in this firm) and they always come in and want to "make their mark" and starting changing and re-inventing the wheel -- especially the ones who have only a corporate background & have never worked in a law firm -- bad decision usually -- but Im trying to be philosophical & know that whatever new craziness they're announcing, it's sure to be a repeat or something that will cycle out eventually! However, the latest rumor seems to be the placement of "hall monitors" on each floor to monitor "work flow", can you imagine -- it sounds like floor nazis to me. Like we're kids in elementary school instead of highly paid, experienced professionals! While I dont personally expect to be a recipient of this micro-managing, I just philosophically feel strongly opposed to such ideas. Well, guess I'll know for sure in an hour (& will try to keep my trap shut about whatever they announce, LOL)... Cindy

Ilene, I don't know if you visit the NWS website like I do. Here's their latest warning for the Caney creek. Actually, there are three back to back warnings . I included all three in case there is info in there that is helpful. I am positive something good will come of all of this, even if we lack the wisdom right now to understand what the good may be. Keeping a positive thought in my head, and a prayer in my heart for all affected by this weather. :) Dawn WGUS84 KTSA 011913 FLSTSA FLOOD STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK 212 PM CDT SUN JUL 01 2007 ...MAJOR FLOODING CONTINUES TO BE FORECAST ALONG THE CANEY RIVER AT BARTLESVILLE AND NEAR COLLINSVILLE... OKC147-020312- 212 PM CDT SUN JUL 01 2007 THE FLOOD WARNING CONTINUES FOR THE CANEY RIVER AT BARTLESVILLE * UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. * AT 1 PM SUNDAY THE STAGE WAS 16.3 FEET. * MODERATE FLOODING IS OCCURRING AND MAJOR FLOODING IS FORECAST. * FLOOD STAGE IS 13.0 FEET. * FORECAST...THE CANEY RIVER AT BARTLESVILLE WILL CONTINUE RISING... CREST NEAR 21.7 FEET TUESDAY MORNING AND THEN BEGIN FALLING. * WHEN THE CANEY RIVER REACHES 21 FEET AT BARTLESVILLE...VERY SEVERE FLOODING WILL OCCUR FROM DEWEY TO OCHELATA. SOME HOMES AND BUSINESSES IN BARTLESVILLE AND SUBURBAN AREAS WILL BE FLOODED. OLD HIGHWAY 75 WILL BE CLOSED. THIS WILL COMPARE WITH THE FLOOD WHICH OCCURRED ON MARCH 3 1975 WHEN THE CANEY RIVER CRESTED AT 20.90 FEET. $$ OKC147-020312- 212 PM CDT SUN JUL 01 2007 THE FLOOD WARNING CONTINUES FOR THE CANEY RIVER NEAR RAMONA * UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. * AT 12 PM SUNDAY THE STAGE WAS 27.8 FEET. * MINOR FLOODING IS OCCURRING AND MODERATE FLOODING IS FORECAST. * FLOOD STAGE IS 26.0 FEET. * FORECAST...THE CANEY RIVER NEAR RAMONA WILL CONTINUE RISING...CREST NEAR 28.9 FEET THURSDAY EVENING AND THEN BEGIN FALLING. * WHEN THE CANEY RIVER REACHES 28 FEET NEAR RAMONA...MODERATE AGRICULTURAL FLOODING WILL OCCUR FROM OCHELATA TO THE NORTHEASTERN TIP OF TULSA COUNTY. SOME RURAL ROADS WILL BE IMPASSABLE INCLUDING THE ROAD BETWEEN RAMONA AND TALALA. $$ OKC131-143-020312- 212 PM CDT SUN JUL 01 2007 THE FLOOD WARNING CONTINUES FOR THE CANEY RIVER NEAR COLLINSVILLE * UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. * AT 1 PM SUNDAY THE STAGE WAS 28.0 FEET. * MINOR FLOODING IS OCCURRING AND MAJOR FLOODING IS FORECAST. * FLOOD STAGE IS 26.0 FEET. * FORECAST...THE CANEY RIVER NEAR COLLINSVILLE ROSE ABOVE FLOOD STAGE YESTERDAY EARLY AFTERNOON AND WILL CONTINUE RISING TO NEAR 35.4 FEET FRIDAY BEFORE DAWN. * WHEN THE CANEY RIVER REACHES 35 FEET NEAR COLLINSVILLE...VERY SEVERE FLOODING WILL OCCUR FROM COLLINSVILLE TO POINTS DOWNSTREAM. CONSIDERABLE FARMLAND WILL BE FLOODED. RURAL ROADS NEAR THE RIVER WILL BECOME IMPASSABLE. THIS WILL EXCEED A FLOOD WHICH OCCURRED ON MAY 11 1993 WHEN THE CANEY RIVER CESTED AT 34.40 FEET. $$

Hello again friends. I continue to be amazed by your kindness and concern. Paulines and Elizabeth10029 - if you are back in here reading, yes by all means please feel free to save these posts. ALL OF YOU have my permission (and gratitude) to keep or share what I have written. I am humbled by the thought that my words have meant so much. There are so many more stories here that need to be told. The political firestorms have been whipped up to a frenzy over the past few weeks. I am sure many of you have heard on the national news the statements our mayor, Ray Nagin, made this week during his MLK celebratory speech about making the city of New Orleans "chocolate". Well, of course, the whole city is now in an uproar. I really think he is suffering from "Katrina fatigue". This mayor was very, very well liked by the most of the city - all different races. Now, he has become a symbol of division. And this comes at a time, when we must really pull together and present a rational, unified front. I am embarrassed and concerned about the damage he has done - the whole world is watching us. And I think the image he put forth is so misleading. While to the outside world it appears that there is a huge racial divide - in reality, New Orleans incorporates her diversity far better than many other cities. One of my dearest friends of 30+ years is african american - and she has spent the past few months living in my home. Our families vacation together every year. My other best friends are indonesian, hispanic, and greek - I am the "token wasp!" I have wonderful friends from as far away as Syria and VietNam. And I am not uncommon. Most New Orleanians work with, laugh and play with, cry and mourn with the many diverse people here. The problem arises when poverty and crime are added to the equation. I have no answers, only more questions. As do the other good people (of all races) who live here. We shake our heads in dismay and write letters to the editor! We are in dire need of effective leadership - and it is sadly lacking. The initial rebuilding plans for the city were just released and are being evaluated now. There is just no way possible to make everyone happy. We have to choose safety over everything else. Some people are simply not going to be allowed to rebuild their neighborhoods. It is so sad, tragic. But it would be insane to allow these people to live in harms way - even if they really WANT to! Desperate times make for desperate decisions, and some people just cannot believe or trust that the engineers and experts are telling the truth about where to rebuild or not. The next few months are going to be critical ones - will the city of New Orleans succeed in creating a plan for rebuilding better and stronger and wiser than before? Or will history repeat itself? Can we get congress to give us Netherlands-quality category 5 hurricane levees? Are we valued? President Bush visited last week and commented that "this is looking like the New ORleans I remember". Well, that was voted as the most ridiculous statement of last week. He saw the French Quarter (which did not flood at all) and the Garden District (which did not flood at all). It's just unbelievable. Only 30% of New Orleans has lights. That's right. It is pitch black at night. And cold. No heat, no lights, no phones. My friend's neighborhood - about half a mile from me - still has no working phone lines. Not one single person I know, who lived in the areas of New Orleans that flooded, has been able to move back into their house. People in Jefferson Parish (suburb of New Orleans, where I live) are able to rebuild now and some have been able to move back. It is absolutely still a disaster zone. And it will remain so until the city institutes a viable rebuilding plan - which appears to be months away yet. I am leaving tomorrow to visit DD back in Michigan for a week. It will be wonderful to get away from the daily bombardment of Katrina news. Of course, she calls almost daily (and usually right after the 6pm news) and at the top of her list is "Mom, why don't you sell your house and move up here?" Honestly, I do think about it. But, I have decided to give it one year here and if we cannot see a light at the end of the tunnel by then...well, I will have to make some very hard decisions. Meanwhile, I will play with precious grandson, enjoy the clean beautiful snow of Michigan, and my beautiful DD, and leave the troubles of New Orleans behind for a while.

I just talked to Carri a few mins ago. She said she was just coming out of the bathroom and some guy came running by her and about 6 cops running right behind him...They yelled at her saying "get out of here" She ran into her officse and said to the other girls we need to get out of here and hide. She went to her bosses office (which was empty) shut the door and hid in there. She works right out in the open by the lobby behind glass. She said the guy that the cops were folling headed for the revolving door in the front. She thinks thats how they caught him because the door revolves real slow and there were cops outside too. Her husband was home with the kids but had taken Brad to his ball practice just a few blocks away. So that left Tay home alone for just a bit. She turned on the tv and saw the live news. She's 12 and old enough to realize that was where mom works. She freaked. She called her moms cell phone. So Carri called a friend who lived near by and ask her to go get Tay because she was so upset. Friend asked sure, why? Carri said because there is a man out there with a gun... Then scared friend. She said her phone has just been ringing off the hook now that she is home...I can imagine. Thanks for prayers..Who knows, that guy could have shot a lot more while he was at it. anxious to know why he did this.. patti